'Words can be really destructive:' Five seemingly genuine celebrity apologies

There's no way we'll ever know if they meant it, but these celebs seem to have done some reflecting.

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LA Blake

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Pretty much everyone by now knows that Jonah Hill is sorry. We're just ready for him to go back to making us laugh.

He's not the only celebrity who showed remorse for what came out of their mouth. Here are a few others whose apologizes seem to be from the heart.

"Words can be really destructive. This kind of defamatory language can have a profound effect on someone who is questioning their sexuality."Jonah Hill, 2014

Incident: The 22 Jump Street star came under fire over the weekend for throwing anti-gay slurs at the paparazzi.

Apology: Since then, Hill has apologized every chance he got. He has something to add every time, showing that he is thinking about what he said and why it was wrong. OK, Jonah, we're ready for you to make us laugh again.

"I'm concerned about more hate, and more rage and more anger coming through."Michael Richards (Kramer on Seinfeld), 2006

Incident: During a comedy show, Richards went off on black audience members who were heckling him, using some awful racial slurs that had people asking, "Did he really just say that?"

Apology: His late-night TV apology was a little incoherent, but what mattered was his sincere tone and concern for the consequences of his actions on other people.

Incident: After Washington and costar Patrick Dempsey got in a heated argument on set in 2006, it was leaked that Washington used an anti-gay slur in reference to another costar, T.R. Knight. He used it again during an interview at the Golden Globes and was fired at the end of the season.

"I'm so sorry. I was so disrespectful to him...I know better."Reese Witherspoon, 2013

Incident: The actress and her husband were arrested for disorderly conduct after a night of drinking. The episode got more attention because of her "Do you know my name?" rant to the arresting officer.

Apology: Even before the video was leaked she took control of the situation. She appeared on Good Morning America and answered each question like an adult, adding a little levity by joking that she finally realized playing a lawyer and actually being a lawyer are different things.

"I believe that love is the greatest of all things, and I have no desire to judge anybody for who they are."Sherri Shepherd (co-host of The View), 2014

Incident: In February Shepherd faced criticism for explaining that she was raised being taught that "you're going to hell if you're a homosexual."

Apology: Shepherd's response was quick but well thought-out, explaining that her beliefs have evolved since then because of her faith.